Undefeated Bulldogs latest test for Tigers

Wednesday

Jan 31, 2018 at 10:08 PMJan 31, 2018 at 10:08 PM

By Peter Baugh Columbia Daily Tribune

Coach Robin Pingeton said Missouri faced one of the conference’s toughest defensive teams when it lost to Georgia on Jan. 25. Unfortunately for the Tigers, Pingeton said her players will have to take on an even harder test Thursday: No. 2 Mississippi State.

The Bulldogs allow only 55.6 points per game, and they have not lost this season.

“We look at it more like protecting our home court,” Pingeton said. “We’re still in the hunt to host and how good of a résumé-builder that would be. I don’t think everything hinges on this Mississippi State game by any stretch of imagination, but it dresses up your résumé when you’re in conversation about that.”

Mississippi State is led by 6-foot-7 center Teaira McCowan, a junior who averages 19.9 points. Pingeton said she expects McCowan to play in the WNBA, and the Bulldogs’ guards have done a good job feeding the center lobs down low.

In last season’s matchup, Mississippi State knocked off Missouri 70-53. The Bulldogs last fell to South Carolina in the 2017 NCAA Championship, and they are the last team to knock off No. 1 Connecticut.

“They’ve got a great team,” Pingeton said. “If you’re looking for a weakness, it would probably be their depth. They don’t go as deep as some teams go.”

To have a chance to win, the Tigers will need a big night from junior Sophie Cunningham. The guard is averaging 18.4 points per game.

National awards

Redshirt sophomore Jaydin Eierman earned NCAA Wrestler of the Week honors after knocking off No. 5 Dean Heil in Missouri’s win over Oklahoma State on Saturday. He also was named the Mid-American Conference Wrestler of the week.

Eierman is a local face; he graduated from Father Tolton Catholic High School.

After running the fourth-fastest mile time in NCAA history Saturday, senior Karissa Schweizer was named USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week. Her time of 4 minutes, 27.54 seconds was the fastest in college indoor track and field this season.

Junior diver Kyle Goodwin also garnered a weekly award. He won two events against Drury, and his conference took notice, naming him SEC Male Diver of the Week.

Tennis

Missouri beat Army and Binghamton on Sunday in Ithica, N.Y., improving to 5-0. Serena Nash, Clare Raley, Mackenzy Middlebrooks and Ellie Wright were undefeated on the weekend, which also included a Tigers’ win over Cornell.

“Overall, it was a great weekend for us, and we look forward to continuing to build next week,” coach Colt Gaston said in a statement.

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